For the third straight year, California photographer Ashley Carreiro-Loyd was the big winner in the 2018 American Sheep Industry Association Photo Contest. She claimed first-place awards in both the open and fine wool categories this year, and also grabbed a third-place finish in the scenic west category.

My mom says all the time, I don't know what you're looking for when you take pictures. It's difficult to explain, it's just something you have to have an eye for," said Loyd, who has won awards in the contest in five of the past six years. Her first-place photo in 2014 - a tender moment between a dog and a ewe - was featured on the cover of the Sheep Industry News that year. "The dog was out there with the sheep, and I was just waiting and waiting. I was about to leave when they finally came together, and it turned out to be a great photo."

This year, Loyd won the open category with her photo entitled Herding, which was taken in March at her parents' operation in Riverdale, Calif. Loyd's parents - Robert and Macrina Carreiro - have been longtime sheep producers in the state. Loyd said she enjoys spending time with the sheep and would be interested in taking over the family operation at some point in the future.

Winners in the contest included:

Open

First Place: Ashley Carreiro-Loyd, California

Second Place: Kay Benson, Utah

Third Place: Carol Chamberlain, Idaho

Action

First Place: Tracie Roeder, Montana

Second Place: Reba Ahlgren, Montana

Third Place: Carol Chamberlain, Idaho

Scenic West

First Place: Jenny Osguthorpe, Utah

Second Place: Brad Osguthorpe, Utah

Third Place: Ashley Carreiro-Loyd, California

Scenic East

First Place: Lynn Cox Boyd, Virginia

Second Place: Emily Quinn, Maryland

Third Place: Amy Kidd, North Carolina

Fine Wool

First Place: Ashley Carreiro-Loyd, California

Second Place: Lacee Sims, Wyoming

Third Place: Diana Nicholas-Addy, Virginia

All of the winning photos can be viewed in the October issue of the Sheep Industry News.

ASI

ASI keeps sheep industry members updated on ASI activities and industry news by regularly distributing and updating various information pieces and sources.